Everyone is a Leader

 

There has been a little controversy over the Toastmasters motto “where leaders are made”. Some have said that they only want to improve their speaking and have no interest in leadership. But without leaders how would the meetings, the contests, the training, happen? The very organization would not exist without leaders.

 

Everyone is a leader, whether they know it or not. Every person who gives a speech is leading. They may want to entertain, challenge, inspire, warn, persuade. Any number of motives are there in their words, but the fact that they are seeking to move a  group of people to action means they are leaders.

 

Even if you are not up in front of a group speaking your very lives are demonstrating an example that people will follow. I heard a lot of wise words from my mother that helped build my character. But the bigger impact was the way she lived her life, the example she displayed every day. She lived her words and lead me to be a better person.

 

The way you live your life leads: if you strive hard and fair and succeed some people will gain confidence that fairness and hard work matters. If you cheat and succeed some people may be tempted to try the same. If you quit when the going gets tough some people may be tempted to quit. But if you persist in the face of fierce opposition others will take courage and fight on. “Never the less, she persisted”